When his marathon Great Neck Country Club men's championship match finally ended Monday, Eric Bergstrom was physically and mentally drained. He barely had energy to celebrate.

It was truly a Labor Day.

Bergstrom barely survived a stiff challenge from Mark Toscano, sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole -- the 39th hole overall - to clinch his third men's title.

"I was so happy that I pulled it off," Bergstrom said. "I was exhausted. It was almost more of a relief. It was an absolutely amazing thing. I'll never forget it."

"… Now that it's over, almost every day I've been more excited about it, how it went and how great it was."

Great Neck pro Kevin Shea called it the "best match that he's ever seen." It also was the first men's club championship to go extra holes.

The memorable match was played on a steamy hot day before a large and enthusiastic gallery of members. Bergstrom appreciated the support.

"If I wasn't as nervous as I was, it would have been really, really fun," said Bergstrom, a former Montville High School golfer and current Waterford resident. "I tried to keep my emotions under control."

Bergstrom couldn't afford to relax because Toscano kept the pressure on.

The pair played in a championship flight match once before, with Toscano winning a Shennecossett Golf Course semifinal match in 2003.

On Monday, Toscano took a 2-up lead after the first 18 holes.

His lead didn't last long, as Bergstrom won the first, second and fourth holes to grab a 1-up lead.

It was a wild ride to the finish, as both golfers traded clutch shots.

Toscano knocked a bunker shot on 16 to within four feet and drained the putt for a 2-up lead.

"He had to have ice in his veins because the guy was never nervous," Bergstrom said.

Bergstrom rallied again, sinking a birdie putt on 17 and then making an eagle on 18 to force extra holes.

"That was probably the best feeling, making that eagle on the last hole," Bergstrom said. "I got pretty pumped up."

The drama continued to build during the playoff.

On the 38th hole, Toscano drained a tricky birdie putt, and Bergstrom responded by hitting a tough five-footer for birdie.

Finally, Bergstrom shook free from Toscano's grip.

Bergstrom felt confident as he lined up a match-clinching 20-foot putt on the par 3 hole. He told his caddy, Mike Gross Jr., that he was going to sink it.

And he did.

"I stood over it for 10 seconds, tried to relax and hit the putt," Bergstrom said. "Probably about six feet from the hole I knew it was in."

Bergstrom praised Toscano, calling him a fabulous competitor.

"It was just good golf all the way around," he said. "Just one of those matches that nobody deserves to lose."

He also thanked his wife, Angela, and their three children - Angelina, Joshua and Andrew - for giving him the time to play golf. He also made a point to mention Great Neck owners Dave and Ann Mortimer.

• Great Neck Country Club Championship Day featured several other entertaining and competitive matches.

Karen Anderson defended her women's club championship by beating Sue Schmidtknecht. Rob Renehan earned the men's senior club title.

Here's a complete list of the club's 2014 men's winners: Tim Haggerty (First Flight), Chris Reed (Second Flight), John James (Third Flight, Stapleford), Jim Flannigan (Senior), Hap Murano (Super Senior), Bergstrom (gross division), James Nicholas (net division) and Matt Shea (Junior). Jim Epps and Mike Gross Sr. won the Four Ball title.

Other women's champions: Anderson (Stapleford), Mary Jean Kanabis (Flight), Denise Feodorov and Pat Hochman (Four Ball), Kay Rhee (President's Cup net), Schmidtknecht (President's Cup gross) and the duo of Carol Mariani and Pat Hochman (Member-Member).

• Ken Sweitzer is a perfect 2-for-2 in Old Lyme men's club championship matches after beating Mitchell Etess, 4 and 3, on Monday. He's from Old Lyme. Paula Bingham of Old Lyme battled the heat and a tough opponent while winning her first women's club championship, defeating Lori Polito, 4 and 3. It was Bingham's second appearance in the finals.

In another club championship match, Fran Sablone defeated Ed Thomas, 6&5, for the men's senior title.

• Adam Rainaud is trying to squeeze in some practice time while working as an assistant pro at Black Hall Club at Old Lyme. He's preparing to play in the National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship starting Oct. 30 in Florida. It is the fourth time that he's qualified for the national event. He's finished as high as third.

He's very familiar with Wanamaker Course at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.

"I've probably played it at least 20 times," Rainaud said. "There's a lot of water, a lot of out of bounds and a lot of bunkers. The tough thing is the (Bermuda) grass is so different. It takes time to get used to it."

• James Lathrop of Pequot Golf Club and Steve Gambeski of Norwich Golf Course were the top local finishers at Connecticut State Golf Association's 9th Tournament of Champions held Tuesday at Bull's Bridge Golf Club in South Kent. They tied for 23 at 9-over 81. Ben Day of New Haven Country Club won the event with a 2-under 70.

• Jack Abbott of Higganum shot a 3-under 68 to win the boys' division at the Jack Kelly PGA Junior Tournament of Champions Sunday at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton. Angela Garvin of Feeding Hills, Mass., finished first in the girls' division with a 74.

James Ballato of Pawcatuck placed third in the nine-hole division.

• At the CSGA's 74th Four Ball Championship Thursday at The Course at Yale, Frank Villazante and William Machnicki of Mohegan Sun Country Club and the duo of Bill Hermanson of Black Hall and Dave Szewczul of Tunxis Plantation Country Club both tied for 11th at 1-under 69.

• Black Hall will host the 113th Connecticut Amateur Championship next June. It will be the club's 50th anniversary.

Upcoming events

• The Connecticut PGA Pro Championship is set for Sept. 22-23 at Wintonbury Hills Country Club.

• Mohegan Sun CC at Pautipaug will be the site of the 53rd PGA Pro-Am Championship on Oct. 6.

• Shennecossett will host the CSGA's 13th One Day Championship on Oct. 14.

• The Lake of Isles Pro-Scratch Invitational, a two-day, 36-hole four-ball stroke play event, will be held Oct. 20-21.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe